Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Reese and I attended part 1 of a 3 part series on Carting facilitated by Sue Ailsby. After Reese’s biking efforts last year, she is no stranger to wearing a harness and loves to pull.

The 1st seminar was a bit mind boggling, with explanations about different types of harnesses and carts We also got to see a demonstration of what a beginner Draft Dog Test would be like. The host club had a number of carts and harnesses on hand and the 1st thing we did was harness our own dogs . Once they were comfortably walking around in the harness we introduced them to the cart , then to a moving cart.

After spending much time last year getting Reese comfortable around the bike and teaching her not to bark or bite at the tires, I was prepared to take it slow and work through anything that cropped up. I am happy to say that she was not disturbed by the carts at all. We worked in pairs and my partner moved the cart while Reese stood close, touched her with the shafts and eventually moved it along side her while I treated and encouraged her. I also coaxed her to walk in between the shafts and back out. Next we attached 2 leashes to the harness and my partner walked behind Reese putting some drag on the leash and giving Reese the feel of pulling.

The next part of our Carting Workshop is in 4 weeks, and our assignments are to get our dogs pulling. So I made what is called a sacrificial tree. I used a 2 X 4 cut to about 3 feet and screwed 2 eye bolts about an inch from each end and a third eye bolt on the other side of the 2 X 4 in the middle. We will get out and try it with the bike harness until our harness gets here.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Ribbons and titles are nice, but both Ardi and Reese really play for the prizes. Stuffed toys to be exact. Funny thing is that whatever you give Ardi, she likes and makes it her own forever. But no matter what you give Reese, she wants what Ardi has.

Ardi and Gio teamed up at the March 10 and 11th, 2012 CARO trials to get legs 2 and 3 to complete their Excellent title. The were team mates for all 3 legs and were High in Class for all 3 legs. Gio is almost 10 and Ardi is 11. A very cool pair of old dogs.

Advanced Team High in Class

and Advanced Team Title for Rush

Patti & Reese

Rush and Debbie

judged by Patty Rollheiser

Reese and Rush have been training partners for some time in agility and in Rally O, so it is pretty cool that they got to try a few team runs together. This High in Class run completed Rush's Advanced Team title. Perhaps they can team up once they are ready for Excellent team. ﻿

CBRS4ME list

Chesapeake Quotes of the Day

1st Law of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever."When in doubt, eat it. You can always throw it up later if you didn't like it."
Unknown
How to tell the difference between a Chesapeake and Lab?"If they look at you like you owe them money, it's a Chesapeake."Unknown

"Nugget" Whiskey Creeks Precious Mettle WC, JH, DD , RN

"Kate" Lady Kate CD, FM, CGC

April 1996 to March 5,2006 Now playing at the bridge

"Kitt" Del Brave Katepwa

April 11/06 to July 14/07 ---- Now at the bridge retrieving all that falls.

The Once Again Prince

We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan...."The Once Again Prince," Separate Lifetimes, by Irving Townsend

"Roxy" Black Diamond Rox FDCh-S

1995- December 13, 2009. ------------ In house Chesapeake Bay Retriever trainer. Her work here is done.

Justice

Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." — Martin Luther King Jr.